Smokers need not apply

[twa]

I'm sure you fat people are next,the lifestyle police are out in force
This country is going to and it is only going to get worse with national healthcare.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article...805200406/1661
SARASOTA — Citing the burden they place on taxpayers who pay for government workers' health insurance, Sarasota County officials announced Monday that they no longer will hire smokers.

BACKGROUND

In Florida, the right not to hire employees who smoke was upheld in 1995 by the state Supreme Court after a prospective employee sued North Miami.

Sarasota County officials cited Centers for Disease Control research that put the annual cost of hiring a smoker at $3,400 a year in lost productivity and medical expenses.

The policy makes Sarasota County the first county in Southwest Florida to make smoking a hiring issue. Charlotte and Manatee counties do not, though Manatee has policies designed to discourage employees from smoking.

Sarasota County Administrator Jim Ley said the hiring ban came out of "a five- or six-year strategy to produce a healthier work force and manage our long-term health care costs."

The county currently pays about $31 million annually in health benefits for 3,600 employees, or $8,600 per worker.

Ley said not hiring smokers should help limit the annual growth in health care costs, the most expensive perk offered to county employees.

...
New hires will be asked to submit to a drug test that detects nicotine and sign a pledge promising they have not smoked in the last 12 months. Existing employees will not be affected, but they are encouraged to take advantage of free programs to help them quit.

In Florida, the right not to hire employees who smoke was upheld by a 1995 ruling of the state Supreme Court.

A job applicant sued the city of North Miami arguing that an anti-smoker policy violated her privacy.

The city argued that each smoker cost taxpayers $4,611 (in 1981 dollars) annually because of medical bills.

Some companies even extend the smoking prohibition to spouses of prospective employees.

Ley said 15 percent of the county's employees with severe illnesses account for 85 percent of the health care costs.

[suze109]

Yup, you're right. I wonder if Sarasota weighs prospective employees too?

Non-smokers who are overweight should be very concerned by this ... obesity is also due, in most cases, to lifestyle choices, and probably causes as many (if not more) illnesses than smoking. And I'm quite sure that smokers are paying more than their fair share in taxes in Sarasota.

Next thing ya know, they'll be coming up with a blood test to check for cheese fries and Krispy Kremes before they hire ya.

[Southtown]

Link? I ask because I want to show my boss here in Florida. He and I got into an argument over whether or not you could not hire someone because they are a smoker.

[twa]

Link? I ask because I want to show my boss here in Florida. He and I got into an argument over whether or not you could not hire someone because they are a smoker.

Sorry
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article...805200406/1661

[Southtown]

That was fast. Thanks.

[Thiebear]

Slippery slope was set upon... Why can't you discriminate now based on previous medical conditions? You've been know to that 10+ days a year due to strep throat.
Next...

[Raub]

They need to expand the War on Drugs to include tobacco. That'll fix it!

[DGreenistheBest]

While I don't think people should smoke at all, I agree that its a slippery slope. I don't see how this law could possibly be held up.

[twa]

They need to expand the War on Drugs to include tobacco. That'll fix it!

It is already illegal to posses it on a school campus here (even for adults),give em time.

I regularly dare them to enforce it.

[twa]

While I don't think people should smoke at all, I agree that its a slippery slope. I don't see how this law could possibly be held up.

It already has,but I'm curious if extending that to spouses will fly.


In Florida, the right not to hire employees who smoke was upheld in 1995 by the state Supreme Court after a prospective employee sued North Miami.

[gbear]

They think smokers up their medical bills? Just let them wait for somebody with MS to apply while they are in remission. It's sometimes not that hard to hide it even during a flare depending on SX.

I hate this because discrimination based on medical issues is a huge problem. The disabled already face discrimination, and to be honest addiction is a medical problem...not just a choice...though it is linked.

Personally, I think most medical problems should not be discriminated against providing employees are doing everything they can reasonably be expected to do to reduce burden to their employers and fellow employees. Yes, quiting an addiction/making a good faith effort to do so is one of those things I think employers have a right to require, much like my employer has a legitmate right (in my eyes not law) to expect/require me to take my meds so I remain productive when I'm not posting on Extreme.

[Thiebear]

Pregnant Moms Using Cell Phones May Harm Baby ...

That's an entire generation of workers that can no longer work.
We must ban cell phone usage of all women and people that are near women.

[DeanCollins]

those complaining please enter your BMI and smoking preference


This is a good thing. It's no different then points on your drivers license affecting your auto insurance. If you drive recklessly you pay. Eat and smoke recklessly you pay.

[jrockster21]

Non-smokers who are overweight should be very concerned by this ... obesity is also due, in most cases, to lifestyle choices, and probably causes as many (if not more) illnesses than smoking. And I'm quite sure that smokers are paying more than their fair share in taxes in Sarasota.

While some obesity is due to lifestyle choices, they've found that genetics plays a large role in obesity as well for a lot of people. Genetics has nothing to do with smoking cigarettes.

[Thiebear]

those complaining please enter your BMI and smoking preference


This is a good thing. It's no different then points on your drivers license affecting your auto insurance. If you drive recklessly you pay. Eat and smoke recklessly you pay.

So Gattica is next?

Vincent is one of the last "natural" babies born into a sterile, genetically-enhanced world, where life expectancy and disease likelihood are ascertained at birth. Myopic and due to die at 30, he has no chance of a career in a society that now discriminates against your genes, instead of your gender, race or religion.